I think the thread with crush immune without shield block was called 'beating the 85' or something to that effect.

I've been eyeing the upgrade path to becoming crush immune without shield block for a month or so myself. Rather than shield block being useless I'd be looking forward to having that rage to spend on other things, such as building threat. It may even be worth a respec (out of improve shield block), though I haven't decided what I'd use the spec point for yet.

Yes yes, so the respeccing is not going to happen as I'll need to keep improved shield block for the fights where I need to swap in another 2-3k hits in stamina gear to survive, but it's a thought.

Anyway, bottom line is that if you're looking to become crush immune without shield block shield block rating goes from being the most worthless waste of item points to the very best use of them, and the fact that a defense gem has some shield block % in it further recommends it over dodge.

Perhaps, but there is no real difference in 25 % total evasion+block and 85 %. Reaching 85 % may be possible at some point without gimping your other stats, but the step from 85 to 100 is gonna be a lot harder.

I'm a bit of a new tank, I was full dps spec. Sure I tanked in most encounters, and didnt really pay attention to tanking gear, I followed the tier armor is good, and get as much defense and stamina as possible, which ive sort of carried through to TBC, but now im full protection and offtanking Gruul it matters alot more about my gear. I was trying to collect all the tier 4 gear, but now reading this, im thinking it might be worth going after the gear from karazhan, and shoving a load of +12sta gems in them, and just dopping the tier gear (well, the 4 set bonus is pretty pap), or is it worth keeping the slotless tier 4 armor?

I was wondering if you guys could take a quick look at my gear and point me in the right direction.

Armory Link

Thanks in advance.

You are doing fine. More +12sta gems would be the way to go. I'd switch to a faster weapon when you can (Gromtor's Charge, for example, is the classic pre-King's Defender tanking weapon), more HS is more threat.

I haven't done the detailed analysis of T4 vs Kara epics for each slot. I suspect it's case-by-case.

Here is a list of gear that should be accessible to you and that has sockets while your current gear at that slot has none.

Iron gauntlets of the Maiden (Maiden)
Wrynn Dynasty Greaves (Curator)
Battlescar Boots (Chess)
Breastplate of the Bold (Arcatraz) or
Panzar'Thar Breastplate (Nightbane)

Otherwise listen to Tharas. Oh and get improved shield wall.

Yeah, I know where the loot comes from (Thanks anyway Arko!), but I was wondering if it would be worth using over my current tier 4 gear? You didn't seem to indicate that.